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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

Skin cancer risk remains high in winter months for college students

New research from Brigham Young University finds college students could be just as at risk for developing skin cancer in the dead of winter as they are in the middle of summer.

17 Dec 2020

Researchers find evidence that COVID-19 spread is sensitive to UV exposure

Scientists, policymakers and healthcare workers are eager to discern to what extent COVID-19 may be seasonal. Understanding this aspect of the disease could guide our response to the pandemic.

17 Dec 2020

Specific genetic target could help explain the variation in COVID-19 effects

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, has identified a specific genetic target that could help explain the tremendous variation in how sick those infected with COVID-19 become.

17 Dec 2020

Expanded biodiversity infrastructure is essential for pandemic preparedness, say experts

When you imagine a visit to a natural history museum, the first thing that springs to mind could be dinosaur bones or taxidermized animals.

16 Dec 2020

A new approach to identify genomic regions in our brain that contribute to make us human

With only 1% difference, the human and chimpanzee protein-coding genomes are remarkably similar.

16 Dec 2020

Discovery about DNA repair enzyme could lead to new treatments for certain cancers

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have found a new way to prevent some tumours from repairing their own DNA, a function that is essential for cancer cell survival.

16 Dec 2020

Deep Longevity releases first AI-powered psychological aging clocks

Today, Deep Longevity, a company developing artificial intelligence to track human aging and extend productive longevity, released the first AI-powered psychological aging clocks to analyze and interpret psychosocial factors in the context of aging.

16 Dec 2020

SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be reverse-transcribed to be part of chimeric viral-human genome

A new study reveals that the genome of SARS-CoV-2 is inserted into the human genome, accounting for the detection of viral RNAs.

16 Dec 2020

New data shows encouraging results for patients with neuro-degenerative blinding eye disease

New data published in the Journal Science Translational Medicine shows encouraging results in a worldwide clinical trial for patients diagnosed with the neuro-degenerative blinding eye disease; Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON.)

16 Dec 2020

Researchers design new chemical tool with high configurational stability, catalytic activity

Researchers have designed and built a new chemical tool inspired by natural metal-containing enzymes in living organisms. The product, a tetrahedral "chiral zinc", maintains its shape for years, providing a new structure with exciting possibilities for manufacturing pharmaceuticals and optical electronics.

15 Dec 2020

SARS-CoV-2 unique deletion variants found in clinical specimens

While participating in the SPHERES Consortium project, US researchers sequenced 2,726 clinical patient specimens gathered in March 2020 and identified eight unique ORF7a deletion variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Their results are currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

15 Dec 2020

Tumor's stiff-arm tactic limits the effectiveness of immunotherapeutics

In a paper just published in the Journal for the Immunotherapy of Cancer (doi:10.1136/jitc-2020-001712), Dr Herbert, Head of Discovery at InsideOutBio, asks whether cancer cells stiff-arm immune cells just like rugby players push off defenders from the other team.

15 Dec 2020

New class of targeted cancer drugs may prove effective in treating common types of leukemia

A new study by researchers in Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Institute and Lerner Research Institute describes a novel class of targeted cancer drugs that may prove effective in treating certain common types of leukemia.

15 Dec 2020

Hazardous chemicals in plastics threaten human health

Plastics contain and leach hazardous chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that threaten human health.

15 Dec 2020

New tool aids in the discovery of RNA medicines for undruggable diseases

Imagine trying to throw a bullseye when the dartboard lies buried within a crumpled box. That's the challenge faced by scientists working to make new medicines for some "undruggable" diseases, including a type of metastatic breast cancer.

15 Dec 2020

Scientists empower wireless sensors with vision abilities to fight viruses

Current and former early-career scientists share their stories and tell how Europe has bet on them, making their high-risk research possible: from intelligent wireless sensors with vision abilities to RNA-based techniques to fight viruses, from the mathematical formulas of the MRI waves to optoceutics, the new technique that uses light to repair the heart after a stroke.

15 Dec 2020

Hybrid approach reveals details about genes involved in Meier-Gorlin syndrome

Meier-Gorlin syndrome, or MGS, is a rare genetic developmental disorder that causes dwarfism, small ears, a small brain, missing patella and other skeletal abnormalities. In severe cases, MGS results in miscarriages and stillbirths.

14 Dec 2020

Compound derived from thunder god vine could improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients

The results of a pre-clinical study led by researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, an affiliate of City of Hope, suggest how a compound derived from the thunder god vine -- an herb used in China for centuries to treat joint pain, swelling and fever -- is able to kill cancer cells and potentially improve clinical outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.

14 Dec 2020

Active enzyme needed to unlock full benefits of vitamin A in carrots

Carrots are a good source of beta-carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin A. But to get the full health benefits of this superfood, you need an active enzyme to produce this vitamin.

11 Dec 2020

Texas Biomed to investigate the effects of cannabinoids on HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Professor Mahesh Mohan, D.V.M., Ph.D., and collaborators more than $3.5 million over five years to investigate the effects of cannabinoids on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND).

11 Dec 2020

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Skin cancer risk remains high in winter months for college students

Researchers find evidence that COVID-19 spread is sensitive to UV exposure

Specific genetic target could help explain the variation in COVID-19 effects

Expanded biodiversity infrastructure is essential for pandemic preparedness, say experts

A new approach to identify genomic regions in our brain that contribute to make us human

Discovery about DNA repair enzyme could lead to new treatments for certain cancers

Deep Longevity releases first AI-powered psychological aging clocks

SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be reverse-transcribed to be part of chimeric viral-human genome

New data shows encouraging results for patients with neuro-degenerative blinding eye disease

Researchers design new chemical tool with high configurational stability, catalytic activity

SARS-CoV-2 unique deletion variants found in clinical specimens

Tumor's stiff-arm tactic limits the effectiveness of immunotherapeutics

New class of targeted cancer drugs may prove effective in treating common types of leukemia

Hazardous chemicals in plastics threaten human health

New tool aids in the discovery of RNA medicines for undruggable diseases

Scientists empower wireless sensors with vision abilities to fight viruses

Hybrid approach reveals details about genes involved in Meier-Gorlin syndrome

Compound derived from thunder god vine could improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients

Active enzyme needed to unlock full benefits of vitamin A in carrots

Texas Biomed to investigate the effects of cannabinoids on HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder

eBook: A guide to RNA sequencing eBook

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